The council will be made up of two councillors in each electorate, plus the mayor.

Ward D - which includes such suburbs as Flinders, Blackbutt and part of Shell Cove - has only two candidates, who are therefore running unopposed and will be elected automatically.

Read more: Your guide to the 2021 Illawarra council elections

Long-time mayor Marianne Saliba has again put herself forward for mayor, facing off against independent Chris Homer.

Marianne Saliba (Labor)

Chris Homer (Independent)

Read more: Meet the mayoral candidates vying for your vote

Kellie Marsh (Independent)

I have 11 years experience in local government. Holding positions of mayor, deputy mayor and councillor on Shellharbour City Council. A proven track record of effective grass roots advocacy. Fighting for the best outcomes for residents.

My goal is to continue to address public concerns and promote the quality of our community. Whilst obtaining successful outcomes on complex issues for Ward A.

Continue to work to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and provide the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make that happen.

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I regularly volunteer with local community groups. A proud mother of three children and grandparent of two.

Shane Bitschkat (Independent)

Maree Edwards (Labor)

Mick Moon (Labor)

Peter Moran (Independent)

[I] was standing up for residents long before being elected to council in 2011, for example on Lot 100 and the Shell Cove project.

As a councillor [I am] proud to have initiated or supported these outcomes: increased public art; ensured protection of Aboriginal heritage items found at Shell Cove; provision of all-abilities play spaces; gained funding for lake dredging projects; expansion/improvement of off-leash dog parks; improved valuation processes for council land; improved governance and transparency, especially around tenders; new facilities at Howard Fowler and Geoff Shaw Ovals; helping residents oppose overdevelopment.

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[I am] also the convenor of the Save Killalea Alliance, protecting this important local green space.

If re-elected [I] will continue to represent residents by pushing for more, and better maintained, footpaths and shared use paths, encourage more local jobs by promoting the growth of tourist facilities around the lake, and the provision of more new playgrounds and public bathroom facilities throughout our area.

Tammy Larkings (Independent)

I was raised in the Illawarra and lived at Oak Flats for the past eight years, raising my boys in this area. Working at Bluescope Steel for the past 32 years I take great pride working in the manufacturing industry.

Whilst I am new to running for council I am no stranger to community also working as an authorised civil celebrant and again working with people completing duties as a justice of the peace. I have campaigned to protect Lake Illawarra from unsustainable levels of cockle collecting, which was successful in seeing bag limits reduced and enforcements increased. I have fought alongside our community to stop any developments and 'Save Killalea'.

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I would like to enhance community assistance programs for our under privileged. Protect our indigenous sites and historical architecture. Assist and guide my fellow townsfolk on opposed townhouse developments and build a "free" undercover area on the foreshore for all our community to utilise, holding gatherings by dance groups, musicians, buskers, tai chi etc giving our locals and especially our elderly community the opportunity to grab a chair and come and be entertained.

My family have a long history of spending time on Lake Illawarra and I would like to continue improvements on the foreshores. I am open, approachable and honest and would like to work with council to continue improving our lifestyle.

John Davey (Independent)

[I have] lived in Shellharbour City for over 50 years and am well known for my advocacy for Lake Illawarra and more recently the protection of Killalea ("The Farm") from commercial development.

[My] background is in the financial services sector, and I was a daily commuter over many decades into the Sydney CBD until semi-retirement in 2016. [I hold] an MBA from the University of New South Wales and provide consulting services around culture, leadership development and effective financial and operational management.

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[I have] been very active in the community and have a deep understanding of many of the cultural, operational and financial issues affecting our council. [My] volunteering activities include community rep on Shellharbour council's Lake Illawarra Estuarine Committee Flood-Plain Risk Management Committee and the Airport Working Party.

[I am] also a committee member on Save Killalea, and also a volunteer guide at the Albion Park Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (H.A.R.S.)

[I] can bring significant professional, operational and financial experience to Council. [I] can give focus to effective financial stability across the whole of council and to those local issues important to our suburbs of Oak Flats, Mount Warrigal, Lake Illawarra and Warilla.

Craig Ridding (Independent)

Moira Hamilton (Labor)

Aarron Vann (Labor)

Ljupo (Lou) Stefanovski (Labor)

Stuart Geddes (Labor)

I am a lifelong resident of the Shellharbour community. I am a union official and parent of two young boys with my partner Jessica. I previously worked as a high school teacher and currently work for the United Services Union as a legal officer. I believe the union movement is key to the development and supporting of ordinary people's lives.

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I am also an environmentalist and believe in protecting our natural environment around us. I believe in a strong community that supports everyone and does not forget ordinary working people. Council should be a driving force for job creation creating in house jobs and an apprenticeship and traineeship program that provides jobs for our youth. I believe in supporting environmental protections and maintaining green space. Working class people deserve not only sustainable full time jobs but deserve a good environment to live in.

Finally the issue of housing is critical and I decided to stand as I want to use councils abilities in terms of zoning, and development applications to create an affordable housing plan. housing is an essential need in our community and it in incumbent upon council and Labor to support our community.

Chris Homer (Independent)

I am a lifelong and well-respected surfer who has lived in the Illawarra and the city of Shellharbour all my life.

I have spent the whole of 2021 advocating for the protection of Killalea State Park and the National Surfing Reserve from inappropriate development. To help with my voice in advocating for the people in coastal communities I am now recently appointed deputy chair of National Surfing Reserves and a board director for Surfrider Foundation Australia.

Read more: Council candidates sing in chorus on Killalea as green issues emerge

In these days and times I am feeling a stronger inner calling than ever before to usher in leadership that is sorely needed and from what I can see desperately desired.

Colin Gow (Independent)

Rob Petreski (Labor)

With an envious lifestyle, strong population growth and surrounded by natural beauty, the residents of Shellharbour City have many genuine reasons for optimism... I share this view!

I was born and bred in the Illawarra and have lived in Shellharbour for over 30 years. I am a devoted single father of four children and share the care and responsibility of raising them in a nurturing and respectful manner. I volunteer for several local sporting and community groups and have a healthy work/life balance.

My current employer is the NSW Department of Education, I have a Class 1 Honours Degree in Design & Technology, Cert IV in Training & Assessment, Cert III in Information Technology and a Cert IV in Electrotechnology.

Read more: Illawarra council elections: What ward do you vote in?

I also completed an apprenticeship as an electronics technician, won the Apprentice of the Year Award, Australian World Skills Gold Medal, St George Youth Endeavour Award and was a semi-finalist in the Young Australian of the Year Awards. Furthermore, I had the great privilege of representing Australia in the 33rd International Vocational Training Competition's Skill Olympics, where I was awarded an IVTO Diploma and ranked 4th in the world. Later I established, built and sold a thriving local electronics business which is still going strong to date.

My vision for Shellharbour City is to build on our strengths such as our natural beauty and coastline, Shellharbour city centre, Shellharbour marina, Shellharbour Airport, Lake Illawarra foreshore and Croome Road Sporting Complex whilst continually exploring new economic, social and lifestyle opportunities for our residents.

Since being elected on to council in 2017 I have moved several successful motions as listed: two weeks free summer pool period; additional road access to Shell Cove subdivision including Killalea; Shellharbour City Youth Summit; Vivid NSW roadshow; sports field LED floodlighting; cemetery condolence shelters.

My pledge as a councillor is to always work ethically and act in good faith. I will make decisions and take actions which best serve the people of Shellharbour city. When making decisions I will ensure the following: objectivity, accountability, transparency, integrity and leadership...this is my duty.

Jacqueline Graf (Independent)

Elected unopposed, I look forward to serving and advocating for the Shellharbour community as part of a functional and productive council to achieve the best possible outcomes; supporting council in its aspirations for delivery of a vibrant, sustainable, well-planned, economically strong and inclusive city, including improving and maintaining services and infrastructure, and the provision of quality, safe and accessible built and natural environments.

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